The University of Sioux Falls Cougars showed plenty of fight on Friday, but Minot State had the final say in both ends of a hard-fought doubleheader at Corbett Field. The Beavers walked off in game one, 4-3, in eight innings, then held off a spirited USF rally in game two to win 11-10.

Despite the losses, the Cougars put together 17 hits on the day, highlighted by a grand slam from Casey Sehr in the second game and a multi-hit performance from William Edwards across both contests. Brady Baur also delivered a quality start in the opener, but Minot State came through in the clutch when it mattered most.

Game One: Minot State 4, Sioux Falls 3 (8 innings)

The Cougars jumped out early. Dominic Vogel led off the game with a double to center, and William Edwards followed with a single to right. Mitch Iliff then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Vogel home for a 1-0 lead.

Sioux Falls extended the lead in the third when Nolan Drossel singled, moved to second on a Vogel sacrifice bunt, and scored on an Edwards grounder that turned into a throwing error. But Minot State answered in the fourth, stringing together back-to-back singles before a three-run homer put the Beavers ahead 3-2.

The Cougars didn't back down. In the fifth, Drossel singled again, stole second, and scored on Edwards' RBI single to left, tying the game at 3-3. From there, it became a pitcher's duel. Baur worked five solid innings, and reliever Zach Peta kept the Beavers quiet through the sixth and seventh.

USF had a chance in the eighth after Edwards walked and Iliff was hit by a pitch, but couldn't push across the go-ahead run. Minot State made them pay in the bottom half, loading the bases before Wyatt Toth delivered a walk-off RBI single.

Baur finished with 5.0 innings pitched, giving his team a chance to win. But in tight ballgames like these, one swing—or one missed opportunity—can make all the difference.